The Hindu : Giant wheel tragedy: Irregularities come to light

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 29, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Giant wheel tragedy: Irregularities come to light

By S. Ganesan

— Photo: R. M. Rajarathinam

The mangled remains of a giant wheel, which collapsed at the Amaravathy riverbed at Karur on Tuesday. — Photo: R. M. Rajarathinam

KARUR MAY 28. While a pall of gloom has descended on Karur town following yesterday's giant wheel collapse, which claimed 11 persons besides injuring 26 others on Tuesday night, the tragedy has brought into focus the negligent attitude of the local body and absence of a regulatory mechanism to ensure public safety during carnivals.

The toll in the accident, which took place during a carnival, organised on the Amaravathy riverbed as part of the annual festival of the Mariamman temple, went up to 11, with six of the critically injured succumbing to their injuries in quick succession in hospitals. Five had been killed on the spot.

Clearly, the festival mood has been ruined with devotees seeing the accident as a bad omen. The main event of the month-long festival `kambam attrukku anuputhal' (ceremonial immersion of the `kambam', revered as personification of God) was held today without the usual fanfare. The police were in no mood to take any more chances and imposed a blanket ban on all amusement activities. The spectacular fireworks display, usually held after the ritual and a major draw among the locals, was also cancelled.

Though the accident was caused by a thunderstorm, which uprooted the nearly 60-ft high giant wheel, it has raised several disturbing questions on the structural stability and safety standards followed by operators. The giant wheel, with 16 seats boxes, each with a capacity of four, had little support except a few ropes keeping it tethered to the riverbed. The crude support systems proved inadequate to withstand the force of the swirling winds. The structure toppled even as the operator brought it to a halt and a few persons were alighting. Many of the victims sustained grievous head injuries, hit by steel girders.

Significantly, the contract for collecting toll from the operators and traders was auctioned by the Municipality for Rs.2.15 lakhs, even though it has no right over the site, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department. Sources said the Municipality had neither taken the concurrence of the PWD nor bothered to check the stability of the structures through its own engineering or town planning sections. No permission was obtained from the police or Fire and Rescue Service either.

It was a classic case of grave negligence by the local body, admits an official. The organisers should have obtained licence from the Town Planning section, after proper certification by the health and engineering sections on the structural stability and public safety. None of the procedures were followed. An assorted variety of amusement games had been put up on the cramped site without even adequate space between them. A stock reply from the authorities to the probing questions was that the show had been going on without any checks for several decades.

A top police officer conceded that the incident should serve as an eye-opener for all concerned so that stringent safety norms are introduced as most village carnivals are being held in a similar fashion.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case against the two owners of the giant wheel, its operator and the lessee of the site, under Sec.304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The owners, Ravi and Ganesan of Gobichettipalayam, are absconding, while a North Indian operator and the lessee have been taken into custody.

Relief for victims

The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today announced a relief of Rs. 50,000 each to families of those who died in the accident.

According to an official release, Rs 15,000 each would be given to the seriously injured, and Rs. 6,000 each to those who suffered simple injuries. The relief would given from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

The Chief Minister had directed the district administration and officials of district hospital to provide the best medical care to those undergoing treatment.

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